The Roger and Susan Hertog Center for the Archaeological Study of Jerusalem and Judah
The archaeological research of Jerusalem and Judah fascinates millions of people around the world, mainly due to the importance of this region since the early days of Judaism and Christianity and its prominence in Muslim tradition. The region has been explored by numerous scholars specializing in different fields, such as history, biblical studies, Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, Islam, and ancient art. Archaeology plays a special role in this regard, as it enables a concrete reconstruction of the reality in which these cultures developed, offering a unique scholarly point of view. Furthermore, archaeology contributes valuable primary data to other disciplines when inscriptions or other material evidence is found that sheds new light on life in the periods under discussion.
The Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been engaged in the study of Jerusalem and its environs since the 1930s. The generous support of the Hertog family has facilitated the foundation of the Roger and Susan Hertog Center for the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Judah at the Institute of Archaeology. The Center promotes the archaeological study of the region through four main initiatives:
(1) Supporting new field projects, such as surveys and excavations.
(2) Supporting publication of past excavations.
(3) Providing scholarships for outstanding M.A., Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral students at the Institute of Archaeology for the study Jerusalem and Judah (in any period).
(4) Holding an international conference on topics of interest concerning Jerusalem and Judah (annually or bi-annually).
Open calls for partaking in the various initiatives appear on this webpage as they are released.
Call for applicants 2024: Applications must be uploaded to the online application system no later than 20.8.2023.
Committee Members
Prof. Yosef Garfinkel (chair)
Prof. Uzi Leibner (head of academic committee)
Prof. Leore Grosman
Dr. Naama Yahalom-Mack
Dr. Ronnie Goldstein (Bible department)
Hertog Scholarship Recipients:
2020–2021
Liat Oz (MA Student)
Azriel Yechezkel (PhD Student)
Igor Kreimerman (Postdoctoral Fellow)
2019–2020
Azriel Yechezkel (PhD Student)
Itamar Weissbein (PhD Student)
Matthew Susnow (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Supported Projects
2021
Debora Ben-Ami – The masculine representation in the kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem during the Iron Age
Asaf Ben Haim – Architectural Decoration at Herodium
Uri Davidovich – The Oasis of Qaneh (Ghweir) and Samar (Tarabe) Springs, western Dead Sea shore, during the Iron Age
Michael Freikman – Excavations at the “Hill of Sixteen” in Giv’at Ze’ev
Yosef Garfinkel and Ortal Harush
Hillel Geva – Publication of the Finds from the Palatial Mansion in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem
Malka Hershkovitz and Shua Amorai-Stark
Igor Kreimerman – The Tell Beit Mirsim Excavation Project
Ravit Nenner-Soriano – Publication of the Metal Objects from Masada
Orit Peleg-Barkat – Back to the Jewish Quarter: The ‘Gan HaMisgav’ Excavation Project
Naama Sharabi – Publication of the Fresco and Stucco finds from Herodium
Micka Ullman – Field Survey of Karstic Caves in the Region of Jerusalem and Judah
Azriel Yechezkel – Analytical dating of the Shaft Tunnel of the Biyar Aqueduct
2020
Orit Peleg-Barkat – Back to the Jewish Quarter: The ‘Gan HaMisgav’ Excavation Project
Uri Davidovich – The Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age of the Judean Desert Cliff Caves – New Studies
Yosef Garfinkel – The 10th Century in the Judean Shephelah
Judit Gartner – Publication of the Pottery Finds from the Theater at Herodium
Oren Gutfeld, Michal Haber and Pablo Betzer – The Beit Lehi Regional Project
Hillel Geva – Publication of the finds from the Palatial Mansion in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem
Yoav Farhi –Roman Period Clay Tokens from Jerusalem
Uzi Leibner – Khirbet Ghurabeh: An Unknown Fortified Site in the Judean Lowlands
Yael Max – The Masada Glass Project
Adi Ziv and Dr. Naama Yahlom-Mack –Late Roman Lead Coffins from Jerusalem: Technological Aspects and Origins of Raw Materials